India's 5G Breakthrough: Indigenous Towers Rise, Quantum Future Beckons! What Investors MUST Know!

Author

Akshat Lakshkar | Whalesbook News Team

Detailed Coverage:

BSNL, India's state-owned telecom operator, is making significant strides with its fully indigenous 4G network, designed to be 5G-ready. This network boasts approximately 98,000 'Swadeshi' towers, signifying a major push for self-reliance in critical communication infrastructure. The core network technology has been developed by C-DOT (Centre for Development of Telematics), while Tejas Networks provides the Radio Access Network (RAN). The crucial integration work has been expertly handled by Tata Consultancy Services.

Kris Gopalakrishnan, the co-founder of Infosys and a prominent figure in India's tech landscape, expressed enthusiasm for this development, stating the need for more Indian-developed products and technologies. He believes that sustained research and development, especially in deep tech areas, requires patient capital and a supportive ecosystem, which is gradually forming in India.

The government's commitment to innovation is evident in initiatives like the ₹1 lakh crore Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme Fund and the National Quantum Mission. Launched in 2023 with a ₹6,000 crore outlay, the Quantum Mission aims to foster R&D in quantum technology, with early-stage startups like QpiAI and QNu Labs already selected. Gopalakrishnan foresees quantum technology having a significant impact after artificial intelligence and machine learning, and believes India has an opportunity to shape this domain. He also stressed the importance of translating laboratory breakthroughs into market-ready products, a challenge India needs to overcome to commercialize innovations effectively, similar to its success in generic drugs.

Impact: This news carries significant positive implications for the Indian stock market and its business ecosystem. It bolsters confidence in India's indigenous technology capabilities, particularly in the telecommunications and deep tech sectors. Companies involved in developing and integrating such technologies stand to benefit. The focus on R&D and future technologies like quantum computing signals long-term growth potential, attracting investment and fostering innovation. This strengthens India's position in the global technology landscape. Rating: 8/10

Difficult Terms: * Indigenous: Developed or made in a particular country; native. In this context, it means technology developed within India. * 5G-ready: Designed and built in a way that it can be upgraded or adapted to 5G standards in the future, even if it's currently operating on 4G. * Core network: The central part of a telecommunications system that provides advanced services such as mobile voice and data services. It's the 'brain' of the network. * Radio Access Network (RAN): The part of a mobile network that connects mobile devices (like phones) to the core network. It includes the base stations and antennas. * Deeptech: Refers to technology companies that focus on significant scientific or engineering challenges, often involving substantial R&D and long development cycles (e.g., AI, quantum computing, biotech). * Patient capital: Investment provided for long-term projects, especially in areas with high risk or slow returns, where investors are willing to wait for profits. * National Quantum Mission: A government initiative launched to promote research, development, and commercialization of quantum technologies in India. * Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS): Systems that integrate computation, networking, and physical processes. They involve a tight loop of sensing the physical world, computing and communicating information, and acting back on the physical world. * Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): The ability of microorganisms (like bacteria, viruses, fungi) to resist the effects of antimicrobial drugs, making infections harder to treat. * Photonic system: A system that uses photons (particles of light) for information processing or communication.